Cal Crutchlow suffers blow as he is only sixth in practice for MotoGP at Silverstone

Cal Crutchlow’s hopes of becoming the first British rider in 32 years to win a
round of motorcycling’s premier class are looking slim as he could finish
only sixth fastest in practice for Sunday’s MotoGP race at Silverstone.

Slower: Despite taking pole at the Czech MotoGP last week, Cal Crutchlow was only sixth fastest in practice for the Silverstone racePhoto: PA

The 27-year-old from Coventry, who rides for the Tech 3 satellite Yamaha team, has emerged as a rising star this year, taking two pole positions and earning a move to the factory Ducati team for 2014. However, he found himself 0.771sec off the pace set by Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo in the works Yamaha, with Honda’s young phenomenon and championship leader Marc Marquez just behind his compatriot.

Crutchlow, who took pole at the Czech MotoGP in Brno last weekend only to crash in the race itself, reported that his bike was not as quick as it had been in the middle part of the year when he took four podiums and was widely tipped to claim his first win. And he conceded it was unlikely that he could become the first man since Barry Sheene in 1981 to win a race in the premier category of world motorcycle racing.

“It’s been a difficult few races,” Crutchlow said. “We are still always in contention but we are just not there like we were at the start of the year and the only thing that has changed is the bike.

“I believe we need to change back. We just need to find a set-up here around Silverstone, which is very fast and technical.” Crutchlow has had horrendous luck at the Northamptonshire circuit having broken his collarbone in qualifying two years ago, forcing him to miss the race, and then breaking an ankle in practice last year, although he returned to finish sixth in the race itself.

Scott Redding, the championship leader in the feeder Moto2 series, is perhaps Britain’s best hope of success this weekend.